How can I make her sit to eat?

[Rainbowbrite]

Ok so this is off the "if they don't eat dinner what do you do" thread.

MJ flat out refuses to sit & eat. She is always jumping up, wanting to sit on DH's lap, eat his food or be fed She will sit at the table for ages just looking at her food, won't touch the cutlery & when I tell her to eat she says she can't & that she needs to be fed. Its getting beyond the joke. I've threatened putting her in the high-chair so she can't get up, but she will just sit there & not eat.

What can I do? We've tried special cutlery like chopsticks, noodle boxes etc all to make food fun, but NOTHING keeps her at the table. I wouldn't even care if she sat on the floor or on the lounge & watched tv while she ate, but she still won't eat.

Has anyone gone through & fixed this?

[NibbleCurlynBub]

If it works and keeps her sitting I would stick with the high chair.

Otherwise, just put her on the floor.
She wants to climb on Daddy's lap during dinner?

Ok, no dinner or family inclusion for you right now.

She will eventually get that if she sits at the table with the rest of the family that she will be paid attention to and included in the all-so-important family she is a member of.

Could always stop giving her food until she sits down.
You'd like an apple?

Oh, sure! Come and sit at the table with me and I will get you one!

Works for my 2 1/2 year old.

[poshBecks]

I sent Connor to bed many times without dinner He eventually learnt

[Chickadee]

3.5 years old? Yep, we went through this to some extent. But with only one child I just put up with it till she seemed to give it up. And probably it wasn't as bad - MJ sounds much more attention seeking . I wish I had some better advice

[red crayon]

we've had similar issues with spencer. the threat that seems to have worked is 'sit down and eat dinner or you can put your pyjamas on and go to bed'. DP and i have actually gone through with the threat too on several occasions. it's getting better but it's a pain in the backside. we're trying to be consistent with the sitting at the dining table and sitting still while eating. some nights can be a trial but it's slowly improving.

Good luck, RB

[Rainbowbrite]

Oh she is one stubborn little thing!! I'm sure its all for attention, she still refuses to eat, but knows better than to attempt sitting on my lap during meals lol.

I generally have Ani in the highchair for meals, but might have to get a 2nd one for MJ, or even a booster type to attach to the chair.

[Buby]

I tried every method I could think of until one day my parents looked after them one dinner time and I came home and there they were sitting nicely eating there dinner! Ok, so my parents had them sitting in there car seats, but I tell you it worked!
It was noval which the kids liked and then about 2 weeks later they just started sitting there by themselves without the seats. Now they sometimes use there boosters at the table, but now its only a few times they sit there with them so I am happy. It totally saved meal times for us! 2 high chairs were hard because hubby had to have one and I had to have the other and if he was late home and it was just me then 2 hours later I would get my dinner!

[FiveInTheBed]

we have a booster (not a car seat, a toddler chair thingy) with a harness that gets used when someone continues to stand up on the big chair after three warnings...for saftey reasons.

i'm a big softy though and usually end up with 1, 2 or 3 kiddies sitting on my lap to finish off their meals (or share mine)

[reAllytee]

I cant remember what we did exactly but it was a combo of things like being sent to bed without anything cause that sends him WILD. But also because he would try it at lunch ( he still does who am i kidding ) it was a case of losing a privelage which was either a certain toy, activity or the likes after lunch so that would tend to keep him sitting.

We also found that the promise of something like a fruit jelly or 'treat' after his meal if he sat was another way to keep him there. This still works beautifully.

[TwoBlue]

I sent Connor to bed many times without dinner He eventually learnt

the threat that seems to have worked is 'sit down and eat dinner or you can put your pyjamas on and go to bed'. DP and I have actually gone through with the threat too on several occasions.

yep I agree with above two ...

The key is that you have to follow through with what you say..once it falls out of your mouth you gotta do it !

Good luck RB its no fun.. we are entering into it now with Ethan...